title: Kinetics of DNA load predict HPV 16 viral clearance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While high HPV 16 viral load measured at a single time point is associated with cervical disease outcomes, few studies have assessed changes in HPV 16 viral load on viral clearance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To measure the association between changes in HPV 16 viral load and viral clearance in a cohort of Thai women infected with HPV 16.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty women (n=50) between the ages of 18-35 years enrolled in a prospective cohort study were followed up every three months for two years. Women positive for HPV 16 DNA by multiplex TaqMan assay at two or more study visits were selected for viral load quantitation using a type-specific TaqMan based real-time PCR assay. The strength of the association of change in viral load between two visits and viral clearance at the subsequent visit was assessed using a GEE model for binary outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At study entry, HPV 16 viral load did not vary by infection outcome. A >2 log decline in viral load across two study visits was found to be strongly associated with viral clearance (AOR: 5.5, 95% CI: 1.4-21.3). HPV 16 viral load measured at a single time point was not associated with viral clearance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate that repeated measurement of HPV 16 viral load may be a useful predictor in determining the outcome of early endpoints of viral infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Gravitt
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Utaipat
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liaw
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tadesse
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Phongnarisorn
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wootipoom
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yuenyao
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vipupinyo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rugpao
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sriplienchan
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Celentano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000821:virology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013785:Thailand; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D019562:Viral Load / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral